CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT ANOTHER HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT.

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THE Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club AGM will now take place on Thursday May 22 and not May 21 as previously planned.

The meeting will be held in the Middlehaven Suite and is for members only and there will be no new memberships taken on the evening due to financial reports.

Committee posts will also be selected on the night.

Please contact Carol Kidner on carol.kidner@ntlworld.com for further information.

Middlesbrough Supporters Club meetings are held in the Hardwick Suite at the Riverside Stadium and start at 7.30pm. They are free to members but non-members can attend by joining on the night. Two passport sized photos are required with each application.

Members are asked to arrive at 7pm for a 7.30pm start in the Riverside Stadium's Hardwick Suite.

Annual membership costs just £6 for adults and £2 for U-16s. For more details please contact Sue Gardner at suem_g@sky.com or write to PO BOX 803, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees, TS19 1EJ.

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MEMBERS of Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club turned out in forceto welcome young stars Ross Turnbull and Tom Craddock as their guest speakers.

Both players answered questions put from our members and gave some very interesting responses.

Ross said he was thrilled to have been called into the first team for the Bolton game and he hopes to be given more chances in the future.

Tom is also keen to gain more experience and said he would welcome a loan move to help him progress.

"Both players said they have been impressed with Afonso Alves in training and they expect fans will see the best of him in the next season," said MOSC chair Sue Gardener.

"The new players are quickly learning English though some are still finding our Teesside accents hard to follow."

As well as signing autographs and posing for photos, Ross and Tom helped drew two important raffles.

One lucky supporter won two tickets to our prestigious Player of the Year event on May 7, while the members who will present the awards to the winners were also chosen.

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BORO legend and radio pundit Bernie Slaven made it an entertaining evening for members of Middlesbrough's Official Supporters Club as a recent guest.

A good crowd turned out to meet the former Republic of Ireland international striker, who scored 146 goals for the club from 1985 to 1993.

"Bernie, as always, was very entertaining and frank during the Q and A session," said MOSC chair Sue Gardener.

"Although Bernie has his coaching badges he is not planning on going into that field just yet.

"We wish Bernie every success for the future and thank him for making time to attend our meeting and for giving our members a very enjoyable evening."

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FANS turned out in force for Adam Johnson's visit to Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club.

The England U21 winger, who had earlier been involved in a signing session at MFC Retail in Captain Cook Square, took part in a Q&A session and signed autographs and posed for photos.   

"Our members enjoyed meeting Adam and we hope that he feels the same about meeting us," said MOSC chair Sue Gardener.

"We also wish him every success with the Boro and hope that he does eventually receive his full England cap in due course."

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MOSC organised a trip to London for the Arsenal game, with a group calling in on the Middlesbrough Supporters South Boro Ball later that evening.

"The weekend was a great success and everyone on the trip had a lovely weekend and the result from the game was a big bonus," said Sue.

"We would like to thank Jessica Garland and Joanna Thornes and everyone connected to the MSS for the warm welcome they gave to us on our arrival and throughout the evening at this event.

"Gareth Southgate and Colin Cooper also received a fantastic reception from those present."

Also present at the party were fans Joyce Hamilton, from Northern Ireland, and Enny Akinosho, from Nigeria, who is in the UK visiting family and hopes to get in another visit to Teesside to attend a home game.

Our pictures show Enny with Gareth and Joyce Hamilton and Sheila Richardson with Colin Cooper.

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CHAIRMAN Steve Gibson answered questions from fans, signed autographs and posed for photographs during his visit to Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club.

Despite the late notice, a large crowd turned up at the Riverside Stadium, with many new members joining on the night.

"All our members enjoyed the evening immensely and were grateful to Steve's candid and honest answers to questions put forward," said chair Sue Gardener.

"Everything from the 39th Premier League game to the diminishing numbers attending home games and Steve's hopes for Boro over the next 10 years were discussed in full.

"He even spent time to sign autographs and have photos taken with our members, especially our younger members."

MOSC committee and members wish to thank Steve or taking time out of his busy schedule to attend as guest speaker.

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WHERE to get the best parmos, his role as the face of Boro's latest marketing campaign and what it's like being guest editor of Redsquare were among the wide range of subjects discussed by David Wheater when he met Supporters Club members.

The popular 20-year-old defender spent an hour answering questions with 60 Boro fans in the Riverside Stadium's Hardwick Suite.

After telling supporters how delighted he had been to front Boro's marketing campaign through an innovative video email, the England U21 star was asked what effect the drive had had so far.

"Well, my mates have been battering me for it!" Wheater joked. "But hopefully it will have the right affect. We want people to come to the games.

"We understand they are not happy when we don't play well, but the fans can make a big difference for us. We are looking to give them performances and results that they can get excited about."

Asked how it felt to have supporters chanting his name during recent games, he answered proudly: "It spurs me on to have the fans singing my name. Hearing that is just the best thing you can hear."

David always has plenty of support from those close to him - though he revealed that some are more reluctant than others to give their backing.

"My family attend all of the games and so does my girlfriend. She doesn't actually like football but I make her go!"

Already one of the Premier League's tallest players, he told fans that he isn't finished yet. "I'm 6 ft 4 or 6 ft 5, but I think I'm still growing," he smiled. "Hopefully once that stops I'll fill out and be like a real centre-back!"

Another question featured his proclaimed love for the Teesside delicacy of a parmo, to which he responded: "The best parmos I've tasted are those you get in the club's restaurant at the training ground.

"Our chef Howard Archer was even recommended by Delia Smith, so he is clearly doing something right."

Wheater was also asked how he enjoyed taking the guest editor slot in Boro's award-winning matchday programme, RedSquare, for the issue published for the victory over Arsenal.

"I enjoyed it, although I was overruled on the cover picture of Jeremie Aliadiere. I didn't think that picture should have been used but it went in anyway!

"But I enjoyed setting the interview questions for Jeremie and even learned a few things about him I didn't know."

Supporters Club members also heard that he was playing left wing when he was spotted by former Boro scout Keith Noble as a seven-year-old, while he was a prolific goalscorer at centre-forward until being moved back into central defence aged 12.

He revealed that his ambition is to play for England and be part of a successful Boro side, that he always has a Red Bull before a match and that if he wasn't a footballer he would love to have been a wrestler!

MOSC member Kay Longstaff said: "David is a very polite, honest and funny young man who is great to listen to and is as passionate about the Boro, as are our members.

"I respect his commitment to the club and his honesty and direct approach. He didn't try to avoid any issues and he hasn't got stuck up and removed from reality.

"We should all be very proud to have a lad in our team who is such a great person as well as a skilful player."

MOSC now has a new postal address which can be used to contact all our committee members and all sections of our supporters club.

Write to:

MOSC
PO Box 803,
Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees
TS19 1EJ

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Click here for a full report on MOSC's annual dinner and Player of the Year awards night, including interviews with the winners.

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Click here for information about the Link-Up scheme, coordinated by MOSC's Sue Gardener, uniting Boro fans around the world.

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Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club committee, 2007/08: Sue Magson (vice-chair), Marilyn Wilson (social secretary), Sandra Jackson (membership secretary), Carol Kidner (treasurer), Geoff Richardson (secretary), Val Bandeira (publicity secretary), Sue Gardener (chairperson)

Middlesbrough Official Supporters' Club

Chairman (spokesperson and general enquiries): Sue Gardener, Tel: 01642 634757, e-mail: suem_g@sky.com

Vice-chair: Sue Magson, e-mail susie_babe_63@hotmail.com

Secretary (all general enquiries): Geoffrey Richardson Tel: 01642 801289 Geoffrey.Richardson1@ntlworld.com

Treasurer: Carol Kidner, e-mail (home): carol.kidner@ntlworld.com

Membership Secretary: Sandra Jackson

Publicity Secretary: Val Bandeira. e-mail val.bandeira@ntlworld.co.uk

Social secretary: Marolyn Wilson. e-mail, marolwilson@hotmail.com

MIDDLESBROUGH Official Supporters Club brings Boro fans of all age groups together in a friendly and relaxed environment.

The only criteria we have for anyone wishing to join the club is that they are a Boro fan, regardless of whether they are season ticket holders or not.

Our meetings are a means of canvassing the views, ideas and concerns that our members have and also give feedback to the club on any issues they may wish to raise with fans. This is achieved through regular liaison meetings between MOSC and MFC.

The Supporters Club organise several events throughout the year, such as weekend trips to away games and the MOSC Player of the Year awards ceremony. Members will have priority on places for any events scheduled.

Please note, although MOSC organises trips to some away matches, these are included in weekend trips only. All away game tickets and travel for Premiership and cup matches are available through MFC and not MOSC.

Guests at our meetings have included Steve Gibson, Keith Lamb and manager Gareth Southgate, as well as MFC players both past and current.

For further information about MOSC or how to join please contact MOSC chair or any committee member.

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SEE BELOW FOR MORE SUPPORTERS CLUB BRANCHES

Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters' Association
 
Chairman: Paddy Cronesberry

Treasurer: Paul Richardson

AS well as campaigning on behalf of disabled fans, the association also organises trips to most away games.

It has 300 members, including all disabled season ticket holders. Meetings are usually on the last Tuesday of every month in the Players' Lounge at the Riverside Stadium.
 
The group has a very close relationship with the club and meets officials regularly to discuss issues affecting members.
 
Century FM commentator Alastair Brownlee had the idea to launch an appeal to replace the group's ancient minibus. His bosses at ntl started the ball rolling with a £5,000 donation and a number of events helped build up the fund.
 
Former Boro star Gianluca Festa made a large personal contribution and businessman Brooks Mileson stepped in to make up the £13,500 shortfall.
 
Gianluca and defender Robbie Stockdale handed over the keys for the specially-converted Iveco Ford Long Wheelbase Daily Van in the summer of 2001. 

The club organised a highly-successful trip over land to Boro's first ever UEFA Cup away tie, at Banik Ostrava in September 2004 and has made several subsequent overseas adventures.

The bus is now reaching the end of its working life a a mjaor fundraising drive has been launched to buy a replacement.

If you are able to help in any way, please contact Paddy Cronesberry (details below). 

Membership: £3 for adults, £2 for senior citizens and £1 for juniors. Lifetime membership is also available for £10. Members get an ID card.
 
Write to: Paddy Cronesberry, 205 Thornaby Road, Thornaby, Stockton TS17 6LS or telephone (01642) 641620.

Derbyshire Reds
 
Chairman: Gary Patterson

Vice-chairman: Ray Earl

Secretary: Duncan Haywood
 
WHAT began as a group of friends travelling to games together in 1995 is now a thriving organisation with around 130 members.

The club meets monthly, usually in one of the two cities from which it draws many of its members, Sheffield and Nottingham. Guest speakers have included Derrick Downing, Don Masson, Chris Freestone and honorary president John Hickton, who brought along his memorabilia, including championship medal and scrapbook.
 
The club now has its own minibus and while many members are Teesside exiles, but there are also lots of second generation Boro fans.

Membership is free. Call Duncan Haywood on 01246 811244 or email janeduncan.haywood@btinternet.com.

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Yarm Reds Supporters Club

Contact: Andy Wilson on 07816606514 or via our website, www.yarmreds.co.uk.

YARM Reds have been established since 2001 and membership reached 183 during the 2004/95 season.

Coaches leave from the Golden Jubilee and Layfield Arms for every home game.

Sedgefield Middlesbrough Supporters
 
Chairman and Secretary: David Pratt

Treasurer: Bob Edmundson

Excursions Officer: John Allen

REPRESENTING the club in County Durham, where a surprising number of loyal Boro die-hards can be found.

Secretary Ray Lower reckons Boro fans are slightly in the majority in Sedgefield, while many members come from outlying villages including Fishburn, Trimdon, Spennymoor and even as far away as Darlington, Wynyard and Billingham.
 
The club was only formed in August 1999, but already has more than 130 members.
 
It organises travel to home games and some away trips, and holds monthly social meetings at Sedgefield Cricket Club on the last Monday of every month (Tuesdays on bank holidays) at 8pm.
 
Guest speakers have included George Courtney, David Parnaby, Robbie Mustoe, Alastair Brownlee, Gordon Cox and Steve Gibson.
 
Each meeting includes a question-and-answer session and ends with a quiz.

Membership is £5 and renewal is £1 a year. Write to Ray Lower, Sedgefield Cricket Club, Station Road, Sedgefield or ring Dave Pratt on 07811 875105

Boro Supporters Around The World

MOSC chair Sue Gardener has been helping Boro fans throughout the world get together to form branches of the supporters club.

Order Boro's home and away strip online wherever you are in the world! Click here for details.